Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-15
A STEERAGE TRIP.
INTERESTING EXPERIENCE OF A
PASSENGER WHO TRIED 1T.

What the steerage Is Like-A Bit of
Rough Weather-An Aggregation of
Odors-A Bed on Deck-How Meals
Were Served.
| Ihe beTThs In the Steerage are not reserved;
they are free, and the custom of leaving the
baggage In them, denoting that they are
taken, Is not regarded. The usurper coolly
throws out the first occupant, bedding, tins
! and baggage, not caring if they are injured
! or not, then falls asleep and does not awaken
| until Its first posSesSor finds another place
Some one quietly appropriated mine and had
thrown my tins in an adjoining bunk. All
were found except that indispensable article,
my bright iron spoon, which was either lost
or taken to complete some one else's outfit.
The stewards are good fellows and will give
extra Accommodations for a dollar or two.
! They VIII wash the tins for the small sum Of
81, and will place in your berth free of
charge
I One of the difficulties of a steerage paSSen-
ger IS to dress and undreSs. The usual way
is to hang the pants on the end of the berth,
jump into them and quickly grasp hold of
the planks to keep from being thrown against
the sides of the boat when it makes lurch
Another way is to kneel, but many & head
was bumped against the iron beams when the
person arose to fix his suspenders. Nearly all,
however, went to bed without undressing
The women have separate apartments i'll
the same part of the boat, and all become ac-
qualnted in short time. They were carrying
on busy conversations, and the different Ian
guages poured out in a torrent, which never
ceased except when the boat gave a lurch,
and then only for a moment. Dirty faced
children, with their cries and screams added
to the melody of sounds l quarreled with
myself for going steerage, but it was too late.
With sigh OF regret l went on deck The
water was calm and beautiful; a pleasant
breeze was blowing and the ride was enjoy
able.
Toward night the water became rougher
and the boat began to rock. Many began to
experience a dizzy and unpleasant feeling,
which constantly grew worse. In a short
time the gentle laughter and sweet songs had
suddenly changed. I looked around. There
was scarcely a woman on deck, and the men
had well nigh deserted it. Lemons and
oranges were in demand The bar was prof
itably patronized. The countenanceS which
a few hours before were bright and happy
were now pale and troubled. paced the
deck, as did many others, in the bracirg air,
with the hope of driving away the miserable
feeling. 1t was in vain. 1 had to give up.
All had stopped walking and had taken their
positions at the railing and were gazing earn
aStly ct the water. They may have been
looking at the phosphorescent light, but l
doubt it, We were made worse by the COM
bined odors of carbolic acid, chlorate of lime
(which was thrown around profusely), new
paint, tar and grease, and other things known
TO those who travel on ships These smells
made me seathly sick, made me hate the
boat, everybody and everything on it.
1t is the sailors duty to sweep the decks,
but they ought to have extra pay, and it
should be collected from the steerage passen-
gers. The men were immoderate smokers
and the scent of bad tobacco was another dis
agreeable odor mixed with those that were
already rendering my stomach weak. i
Polish Jew carried the largest and f1lthiest
pipe, and many times during the day and
night this big bowl of intolerable scents could
be seen hanging from his mouth. The sick
persons slept on deck all night, dreading to
go in the steerage on account of the horrible
smell which pervaded it. The sailors worked
The whole night managing the sails and wash
ing the decks, and often the sleepers were
aroused by the scrubbers' hose The bare
deck was tho principal bed; mine was coil
Of rope, and, notwithstanding the noise, fell
into q refreshing sleep.
The seasick people would come to the tables
and try to eat, but as soon as any greasy food
was taken the party sought the railing of the
boat or the cutters in the steerage. Finally
they took to their berths, and when the stew
ards came at meal times to give each his por-
lion, they, like some Rip Van Winkle with
shaggy beard and unl1empt hair, poked their
heads from their berths and showed their
plates and basins at the steward to be filled
Up. There they sat and ate. If the food had
the wrong effect, they stretched their heads
over the berth and looked at the door. Some
ate and washed in the same basin, for it was
too much trouble to carry whole dinner set.
The steward every morning swept out the
steerage, though the agents Of the steamship
lines say they are washed out, and sprinkleG
the floor with sawdust, chloride of lime car
bolic acid, etc
In three days the steeIage passengers were
all well, and when the dining bell rung every
one rushed to the table,. The steward dealt
out from large buckets each mans share, and
70 the credit of the steerage they behaved
very well, though table etiquette seemed out
of place 1t is different coming to America
the class of people is so unlike. Sometimes
four or five are in straight jackets at once.
The food was in good condition and well
cooked, and every one got plenty. We were
given for breakfast coffee, tea, bread, oat-
meal and butter; for dinner vegetable soup,
boiled beef, potatoes, rice and stewed apples.
Sometimes this would be changed, and on
Sunday cherry pudding would be given for
dessert; for supper the same as for breakfast
Who cannot live On this for seven DAYS?
Many steerage passenger fares better on
the boat than he does in his own home For
merly the steerage passenger was given his
days allowance, but he had to cook it; and
this is probably the reason why many bring
canned food with them, thinking they have
to do their own cooking. Now, by getting
on the good side of the cooks and paying
them S5, they may get almost cabin fare.
After eating all go on deck to wash their
tins. The rest Of the day would be spent in
lounging around, sleeping on deck, playing
cards and telling yarns At night those who
had any music in them would sing q few
songs. They would be accompanied by a
broken winded accordion or by melancholy
futc. The most respectable would join in the
songs and sports Of the sailors and cabin
boys; and many an evening was pleasantly
spent in this way. Some of them, rather
than be idle, would help to do the work, and
when the sails were put out many as could
pulled on the ropes
The steerage passengers get over sea sick
ness sooner than the cabin passengers, who
have so much richer food. Some of the cabin
passengers were sick the entire trip, but
would come on deck the day before landing,
perhaps afraid of being quarantined.
To cross the ocean for health, it is, in my
opinion, a mistake for a young man to &C
cabin. Because the cabin is so finely fur
nished that when he gets sea sick he will. &C
to his berth, and, having some one to wait On
him, he will very likely stay there during he
whole voyage; whereas, the steerage being
not so comfortable, and the odors not so
pleasant, he will he forced on deck the place
where he ought to be.-"A. L. s." in Kansas
City Journal.